Deputy General Counsel for Policy & Compliance

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts seeks a Deputy General Counsel for Policy & Compliance within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR). The DGC will assist the Undersecretary and General Counsel in public policy development and coordination for OCABR and its constituent agencies.

Under the General Counsel, the DGC provides legal services, coordinates with agencies, drafts legislation and regulations, and handles inquiries from the Legislature.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor with MA bar admission or eligibility.
• Experience advising on regulatory and policy matters.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal oversight on OCABR regulatory obligations and compliance.
• Draft and amend legislation, regulations, and guidance.
• Coordinate with the Attorney General and other agencies on legal matters.
• Advise senior staff and agency leadership on complex policy questions.
• Support litigation and external counsel in agency matters.
• Respond to public records requests in accordance with law.
• Manage day-to-day legal operations under General Counsel supervision.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Public policy

Legal research

Massachusetts law

Leadership

Litigation support

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Deputy General Counsel for Policy & Compliance (26000660)

Job Description

Deputy General Counsel for Policy & Compliance - ( 26000660 )

Description

About the Organization:

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) is a state agency within the Executive Office of Economic Development and is responsible for protecting consumers through advocacy and education. The Office of Consumer Affairs works to ensure that the businesses our agencies regulate treat all Massachusetts consumers fairly. The Division of Banks ("DOB"), Division of Insurance ("DOI"), Division of Occupational Licensure ("DOL"), Division of Standards ("DOS"), and Department of Telecommunications and Cable ("DTC") all fall under the OCABR umbrella and help us to fulfill our critical mission of building better businesses and smarter consumers.

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is committed to creating and sustaining a work culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and mutually respectful to all its employees regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or disability status. We strive to reflect diversity in all facets and levels of our agency. The Office or Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation values inclusiveness and diversity within their employee and management teams. Within our community we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered to maximize their skills and talents to serve our citizens.

About the Role:

This position acts as the Deputy General Counsel for Policy and Compliance (DGC) for the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. The DGC assists the Undersecretary, Deputy Undersecretary, and General Counsel in the development and coordination of public policy for OCABR and OCABR’s other constituent agencies. The DGC is the liaison with OCABR staff and agencies on legal matters to ensure coordination of OCABR and agency priorities, monitoring agency initiatives and communicating with others within the administration or through various external channels. The DGC represents OCABR as needed for the industry and consumers. Under the supervision of the General Counsel, the DGC manages the day-to-day legal operations of OCABR.
The DGC provides legal services in the form of oral and written legal opinions to personnel of the OCABR, DOS, DOB, DOI, DTC and DOL regarding regulatory issues that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business, and regarding information sought by the public to ascertain their legal rights as consumers. The DGC also handles correspondence between the agencies and third parties regarding legal matters. The DGC provides guidance to the Senior Director of Programs who oversees the Lemon Law and Home Improvement Contractor arbitration programs. The DGC, along with the General Counsel, is ultimately responsible for the agencies’ compliance with all its statutory and other legal obligations and is responsible for drafting proposed legislation and regulations as well as handling both formal and informal inquiries from the Legislature regarding commentary on bills, and advice on consumer issues. The DGC shall be responsible for ensuring that public record requests sent to OCABR are responded to in accordance with applicable law. Responses to public records requests received by these agencies are also coordinated by the DGC and General Counsel and serves as liaison with the attorney general’s office in connection with suits brought against any of these agencies.

The DGC provides legal support and advice to Review Examiners and OCABR staff related to OCABR regulatory obligations.

Respond to public record requests sent to OCABR in accordance with applicable law.

Other duties, as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide legal oversight and guidance regarding the organization’s compliance with their regulatory obligations, including the development, implementation, maintenance, and periodic review of compliance policies, procedures, controls, and standards. Monitor legal and regulatory developments and assess their impact on the agency, recommending appropriate changes to policies, procedures, operations, and compliance practices.
• Provide direct and indirect legal support and advice to OCABR and its agencies and offices, including their senior staff and general counsels, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Division of Occupational Licensure, Division of Banks, Division of Insurance, Department of Telecommunications and Cable, and Division of Standards.
• Draft and amend, review, interpret and process legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines on behalf of OCABR, and its agencies, and other executive offices to ensure coordination with OCABR policy priorities and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Assists OCABR General Counsel with legal or policy matters as needed, including major policy initiatives such as consumer protection and business regulation plans and legislation.
• Assist the Office of the Attorney General with litigation in which the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation and/or OCABR agencies are a party by preparing and reviewing affidavits, briefs, and related court papers; working with outside counsel who are providing legal services to the agencies in transactions or litigation; and coordinating with the Executive Office of Economic Development's General Counsel, the Governor's Office on Legal Counsel on such matters.
• Provide legal support and advice to Review Examiners and OCABR staff related to OCABR regulatory obligations.
• Respond to public record requests sent to OCABR in accordance with applicable law.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be a lawyer licensed in Massachusetts with in depth understanding of MA administrative law, consumer protection laws (state and federal), and a working knowledge of the legislative process in Massachusetts.
• Familiarity with applicable substantive and procedural law, both civil and criminal.
• Excellent demonstrated communications skills in all areas, both written and oral.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience in dealing directly with the public, including both consumers and businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with personnel at all levels of the organization, business leaders, legislators and other government officials.
• Strong ability to research and develop solutions for problem areas encountered.
• Ability to complete assignments and reviews within strict timeframes.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and successfully manage a multitude of assignments of varying complexity.
• Experience in the principles and practices of management, planning and organization.
• Ability to develop ideas and arguments in a concise and logical sequence.
• Ability to anticipate and analyze difficult situations and take corrective action to prevent problems from occurring.
• Ability to adjust to changing situations to meet emergency or changing statutory and/or regulatory re-quirements.
• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office Suite and software programs necessary to support the agency’s operations.
• Experience in public sector is preferred.

An Equal Opportunity /...>

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of